President Trump confirmed a “very productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, according to a post on Truth Social. The two leaders are now expected to meet soon in Budapest, Hungary, with discussions focused on potential pathways to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trump’s recent threat to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles may have played a key role in prompting Moscow’s sudden willingness to engage in high-level talks. While full details of the call remain undisclosed, the shift in tone signals possible upcoming breakthroughs in negotiations to end the three-year conflict in Eastern Europe.

The war has resulted in a devastating toll, with casualty figures reportedly reaching around 1.4 million on both sides. This estimate comes from a recent New York Times report that cites U.S. and British government sources, among others.

What comes out of the Budapest meeting remains to be seen. However, early signs show continued engagement, with Russian sovereign wealth fund head Kirill Dmitriev posting on X about Elon Musk’s Boring Company potentially building a…
https://www.sott.net/article/502435-Head-Of-Russias-Sovereign-Wealth-Fund-Pitches-Putin-Trump-Undersea-Tunnel-Linking-Russia-US